SOURCES: England Rugby; International Olympic Committee; National Football League; World Rugby AP

THE PITCH Halfway lineWhere games start and

resume after scores. Try line

Goal postGoal post

Try line

Each team has seven players

Games are 7 min. in a half10 min. a half in finalExtra time is added if needed.

The field is about the size of a soccer field.

Goal posts about the same width and bar height as NFL posts.

7 min.

MAULBall carrier is held off the ground by opponents and at least one teammate, and players attempt to control possession of the ball using their arms.

If a maul is too long, a scrum is awarded in favor of the team moving forward.

Ball carrier

Ball

TACKLETackle bringing another player to the ground

Ruck Opposing players compete for turned over ball following a tackle.

Tackled player must release ball Tackler

must release opponent

SCRUMFor minor infringements. Three players on each side link arms and the ball is rolled through the middle. Both teams contest the ball with their feet.

Both teams fight for the ball with their feet.

SCORING

5 points Try: grounding the ball on or over the try line.

3 pointsPenalty or drop goal kick.

2 pointsConversion: a kick for extra points after a try.

Prop Prop

Scrum half

Hooker

PENALTIESYellow card 2 min. suspension from game.Red card out of game for rest of match.Penalties can result in:Kick for goal a kick between the posts to score.Touch kick kick over the sideline, then get the ball back from a lineout.Tap touch the ball with a foot, then run or pass.

Backs

Forwards

102-109 yards

Kick-off starts the gameThe winner of a coin toss chooses to kick or pick an end of the field.

The ball is moved down the field by running, kicking and passing backwards.

Bounce

Dropkick

For the first time Rugby Sevens will be played in the Olympics. Sevens differs from rugby union – which was last played at the Olympics in 1924 – in

that it has half as many players and the game is much shorter in duration, making for a faster paced game with fewer stoppages.

Rugby Sevens’ Olympic kick-off